Malaysians Say The Darndest Things!

Hindraf Roses Set To Be Ignored By Acting PM Badawi

February 15, 2008

Do you still remember Hindraf’s leaders? They were certainly not foremost on my mind, but during my Chinese New Year celebrations, I suddenly recalled that these 5 men were still arrested under the Internal Security Act, and probably under trumped up charges of ‘disrupting national security’ and being ‘terrorist threats’.

So as you had spent precious time with your families during this past holidays and Valentine’s Day, spare a thought for 5 families that were not able to enjoy their holidays, and the heartache they have to endure when seeing the happy faces of other families.

Tomorrow, Hindraf will take to the streets again. This time, Hindraf supporters and 200 children will be gathering in front of the gates of Parliament. These children will be bringing along roses to be presented to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and these roses are probably meant to signify to the acting Prime Minister that they mean no harm. This event is also meant to petition for the release of the Hindraf 5 from ISA, hoping to gain some compassion from the PM, something that he himself lacks (you’ll see why I say that later).

As expected, Malaysiakini reports that the gathering has already been denied a police permit, for the usual reasons of “disturbance to public peace, creating a possibility of violent clashes, causing traffic congestion and organised by an unregistered body”.

Handwritten letter delivered, but PM says he never received

Photo taken from Malaysiakini

One of the children, Vwaishhnnavi, who is a child of P Waythamoorthy (currently in self-exile), has written a letter to the Prime Minister inviting him to accept the roses on February 16th 2008. This letter was submitted directly to the Prime Minister’s office in Putrajaya on January 22nd 2008, and was delivered through an aide of the PM.

Hindraf Roses Letter
Click on link above to read the handwritten letter by Vwaishhnnavi to the PM.

Badawi’s Response

You might think that being denied a police permit for a gathering of kids to hand-deliver roses to the PM is a big slap in the face. But the biggest slap in the face (depending on how things go tomorrow, it could be a punch) has to be how Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, “Sleepy Ruler of Malaysia, and He Of Lacking Compassion” has responded:

Roses will be the symbolic medium used to appeal for Abdullah to heed the demands. Two letters have been submitted to the prime minister’s office last month, inviting the premier to receive the roses.

Abdullah however have denied receiving any invitations and said that he will not attend any Hindraf event.

(Me: Biasalah, tau tidur saja.)

“What for? Why should I attend any Hindraf event?” he said when asked by a reporter at a press conference held after chairing Umno’s Supreme Council meeting on election preparations yesterday.

Having read that, the safety of the children could be threatened. It is not inconceivable that the BN government will use tear gas and chemical laced water cannons on the children and their parents. Past events has suggested that this could be a possibility. I would even dare predict that if this were 2007, it would likely happen.
I say this because there is already a ready-made case for the government against Hindraf: The IGP Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Gani Patail will probably blame the parents for putting their children’s life in danger, and might trump up the charges of illegal assembly to include child abuse as well.
Fortunately, such blatant misuse of power and excessive force will probably not occur, because the Malaysia general elections is less than a month away on March 8th. Using violence on children will only fuel the people’s anger against the government, and the government cannot risk losing more votes.

Whatever happens tomorrow, do spare a thought for these children tomorrow. Also, spare a thought for the Hindraf 5:
P. Uthayakumar
V. Ganabatirau
M. Manoharan
R. Kenghadharan
T. Vasanthakumar

Thank these people for the changes, promises, and attention that the government have showered upon you. If you’re a opposition supporter, thank these 5 men and countless other brave men and women in Hindraf for giving the opposition a real chance to win during the coming general elections.

I won’t be there in body tomorrow, but I will be there in spirit. Good luck, and have a safe gathering, children.

Other blogs commenting on this event

Free H5 (Elizabeth Wong) - For a list of other cities in the world to gather in solidarity
ITS FINAL. ITS GONNA BE GUNS N ROSES THIS SATURDAY! (zorro)
Is “Children With Roses” a Threat to National Security? (sagaladoola)
PM won’t attend any HINDRAF event (poobalan)

You Might Find These Interesting

• Hindraf Roses Trampled: I Got It Wrong
• Bersih Gathering: Mainstream Media Silence And Lies
• Arrested For Bringing Letter?
• UMNO Respects Other Component Parties? April Fool’s Was Last Week
• The Inconsistencies Of The Royal Malaysian Police

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